Rolling-mill-driving system



March 11, 1930. J. LEDWRNKA ROLLING MILL DRIVING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 20,1926 INVENTOR. J'Oseph fieddinfiig ATTORNEY.7

Patented Mar. 11, 193(1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" JOSEPH LEDWINKA, orPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIeNoE TO BUDD WHEEL COMPANY, EPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION or PENNSYL- VANIAROLLING-MIlLL-DRIVING SYSTEM Application filed November 20,1926. SerialNo. 149,703.

This invention has for its object the provision of an improved drivingmechanism for certain types of rolling mill machinery.

Another object is the provision of a driving system whereby theperipheralspeeds of the opposed rolling surface are equalized, thuseliminating the difficulties due to unequal speeds, such as slippage,wrinkling, buckling, etc.

Other objects and advantages will appear upon understanding of thisspecification with its appended drawings, in which Figs. 1 and 2 showdiagrammatic section- 211 views of two forms in which the invention [55is constructed (Fig. 2 being the preferred form). l

The invention is disclosed in relation to a mill of the type disclosedin Patent Number 1,606,903, John W. Smith, dated November 16, 1926,wherein a pair of rolls operate simultaneously on a blank held on arevolving platen. Only enough of the structure of the above mentionedpatent is disclosed to make the structure and operation of the presentinvention clear.

In Fig. 1, reference numerals 1 and 2 designate the blank working rollsand the revolving platenrespectively. In accordance with the abovementionedpatent the Rolls 30 l are adapted to be radially traversed andretraversed over the platen 2, as shown by the arrows. Likewise, theplaten 2 is adapted to be approached to the rolls 1 and retractedtherefrom, as shown by the arrows. The mechanisms for effecting thesevarious movements are not shown, since they form nopart of the presentinvention and are fully disclosed in the above mentioned case. 1 40 IThe rolls 1 are splined to shafts 3, thus permitting their propertraverse movements,

but causing them to be driven by the rotation of said shafts. Gears 4,coacting with another gear on the field housing 5 of the prime moverserve to drive shafts 3.

The prime mover is of the difl'erential type in which either thearmature 7, or the field 6, is free to move, current being supplied byslip rings 8 and brushes 9.

The platen 2 is fixed to a splined shaft 10 which rotates with thearmature 7, but is free to move longitudinally relative thereto.

From the construction it is apparent that the drive is inherentlyequalized between the rolls and the platen, and that slippage and otherdifficulties arising from unequal surface velocities of the two elementsare avoided.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 2 is basedon the principles ofthe first figure, but altered to permit the use of a less specializedform of prime mover. Similar reference characters refer to similar partsin the first figure.

Rolls 1 and platen 2 are mounted as above, to be moved longitudinally oftheir axes of rotation by means of suitable mechanism. In this form' ofthe invention, however, the shafts 3' are interconnected by reversinggears 13, to rotate in opposite directions, both 70 being driven fromthe field 6, of the prime mover, through gears 4, 5'. In a similarmanner, the armature 7 drives the platen 2 through gears 11, 12 and 10.

Thus, there has been disclosed a system of driving for rolling mills, inwhich the peripheral velocities of the coacting rolling elements must atall times be identical, doing away with the previous difficulties andfaults caused by inequalitiesof speed. I/Vhile the invention has beendescribed with reference to a preferred form, and to one kind of rollingmill, it is obviously capable of wider use and of abroaderinterpretation, and is to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims.

' What I claim is:

'1. A rolling mill comprising a pair of opposed rolling elementsoperating respectively under changing load conditions and means fordifferentially driving saidelements, said driving .means so cooperatingthat the opposed rolling elements have, at their points of rollingcontact, the same circumferential surface speed under'any of the saidload conditions.

\ 2. A rolling mill comprising a pair of opposed rolling elementsoperating respectively under chan ing load conditions and a prime moverof e differential type 'operatively till connected to said elements,said rime mover so cooperating that the oppose rolling elements have, attheir points of rolling contact, the same circumferential surface speedunder any of the said load conditions.

3. In a disc rolling mill, a disc-supporting revoluble platen, opposedrolls for acting on said disc, an electric motor and connective meanswhereby one element of said motor drives the platen and the otherelement drives the rolls so that the circumferential surface speeds ofthe rolls and platen are always equal at the various points of rollingcontact.

4. In a rolling mill comprising oppositely disposed rolling elementsbetween which the Work of rolling is carried out, a driving systemcomprising a prime mover having a pair of elements, both free to moveand between which a propulsive effort is exerted, and connecting meansbetween each one of said rolling elements and a corresponding drivingelement.

5. In a disk rolling mill comprising a platen, a radially traversibleroll coacting therewith operating respectively under changing loadconditions, and means for differentially driving said roll and saidplaten, said driving means so cooperating that the said platen and rollhave, at their points of contact, the same circumferential surface speedunder any of the said load conditions.

In testimony whereof he hereunto affixes his signature. I

JOSEPH LEDWINKA.

